HP will tell the investors just how rocky its waters are later tonight, but for now, enjoy this gem: the company lost $3.3 billion solely through buying and squandering WebOS.

HP describes this staggering money-flushing as "the wind down of HP's webOS device business, impairment of goodwill and purchased intangible assets, amortization of purchased intangible assets, restructuring charges and acquisition-related charges." In human-speak, think of it as buying a delicious steak and then dropkicking it out of your 100th floor window.

Or perhaps dangling it is more accurate—we're still not sure if HP is going to chop WebOS for good or not. And neither is HP. We'll find out soon, with any luck. [Marketwire via Verge]